August 26, 2024 Issue 313
Daylesford’s Merry Men
The Local - The Heart of the Highlands
Front page: Daylesford's Men's Shed participants are up to all sorts of things, as journalist Eve Lamb found out recently. Read her story on p9.
Pictured here, from left, are Daylesford Men's Shed members Andrew Azzopardi, Chris Carbone, Colin Dunlop and Georgio Buscema outside the Shed in Victoria Park
Image: Eve Lamb
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Lake Daylesford poem
Daylesford's Sue Savage often has her grandson Tasman and his younger sister Freda stay with her on school holidays - and they always go on lake adventure walks.
"It was on one of these walks in the second week of holidays, when it was very cold and misty, that Tasman came back and typed up his experience. He is nine years old and Freda is five," Sue said.
In the spirit of encouraging young people to continue to write and express themselves The Local's editor Donna Kelly thought it was a great idea to share Tasman's work here.
The
Daylesford Lake
The cold air freeezes my toes, I'm not sure if I can feel my nose.
Looking at the river
As it starts to quiver.
The trees are rustling,
As the birds are singing.
My feet are marching along the track, As the cold air climbs up my back.
The sky is grey on a winter's day.
This beautiful lake, Is better than cake.
This is my home, my happy space, I will never forget this place.
By Tasman Roche
The Local is a fortnightly community publication covering the Central Highlands of Victoria.
The next edition is out on Monday, Sepember 9, 2024. or online on Sunday, September 8 at www.tlnews.com.au
Space bookings: Wednesday, September 4
Copy deadline: Thursday, September 5
Editorial deadline: Thursday, September 5
General manager: Kyle Barnes on 0416 104 283 or kyle@tlnews.com.au
Editor: Donna Kelly on 0418 576 513 or news@tlnews.com.au
Editorial: Eve Lamb on 0493 632 843 or editorial@tlnews.com.au
Sub-editors: Nick Bunning, Lindsay Smith & Chester the Cat
Writers: Eve Lamb, Kevin Childs, Tony Sawrey & Donna Kelly
Photographers: Kyle Barnes & Eve Lamb
Graphic designer: Dianne Caithness
Contributors: Glen Heyne (gardening), Darren Lowe (music), Sarah Lang (recipes), Clive Hartley (wine) & Bill Wootton (poetry)
Accounts | Julie Hanson Delivery | Tony Sawrey
Rainbow Action Plan
Hepburn Shire Council has launched its inaugural Rainbow Action Plan for LGBTIQA+ inclusion. Ministers Harriet Shing and Mary-Anne Thomas officially launched the RAP in Daylesford.
Mayor, Cr Brian Hood, said the plan committed the council to actions that would foster a safer and more welcoming community for all LGBTIQA+ people.
“We recognise and celebrate the important contributions that our LGBTIQA+ people, businesses and visitors bring to the life of our shire. Together, we share an inclusive, resilient, vibrant, sustainable, innovative and diverse community,” he said.
The plan will help to ensure that all LGBTIQA+ people feel supported, connected, visible and safe in our community. It will also guide the council in providing an inclusive workplace for its LGBTIQA+ staff and volunteers.
“Through this Rainbow Action Plan, council re-commits to achieving equality for LGBTIQA+ people. We will work to end LGBTIQA+ discrimination, and we affirm and defend the fundamental human rights of LGBTIQA+ people.”
“Hepburn Shire Council is one of only 18 local government authorities in Victoria to adopt an LGBTIQA+ Action Plan. It is further evidence of its role as a leader in gender equality and equity and promoting respect and safety in the community.” To read a copy of the RAP visit Rainbow-Action-Plan.
Nobody Beats Dan Murphy’s?
Hmmm. Daylesford Beats Dan Murphy’s
The Victorian Liquor Commission has overturned a liquor licence granted to The Endeavour Group to establish a Dan Murphy’s in Daylesford.
The landmark decision, the first time the new definition of “harm” under the Liquor Control Reform Act has been used to refuse a licence, was handed down on August 14.
Hepburn Shire Council CEO Bradley Thomas said the council, which objected to the licence, welcomed the decision.
"Council strongly advocated for the refusal during the submission process and at hearings, along with a number of committed community members who contributed their time and presented evidence."
At the hearings the council described as a critical shortcoming that neither the licensee, nor its expert witnesses, undertook any consultation with local stakeholders or the community.
On July 11, 2022, Endeavour Group Limited applied to the Victorian Liquor Commission under the Liquor Control Reform Act 1998 for a packaged liquor licence for proposed premises located at 63 Central Springs Road, Daylesford, trading as Dan Murphy’s.
Two days later the application went to the Chief Commissioner of Police and the Hepburn Shire Council. On July 26, 2022, Victoria Police advised that it did not object while on August 12 Mr Thomas advised that the council objected. Another 204 objections were lodged to the original application.
On December 9, 2022, a delegate of the Commission determined to grant the original application. However between January 5 and 9, 2023, the Commission received applications for internal review from Ms Krystyna Szokolai, Ms Gina Butera, Mr Mark Dickenson, Cr Jennifer Bray, Hepburn Shire Council, Ms Irene Holub and Ms Lynda Poke.
With an internal review, the Commission stands in the shoes of the original decision-maker and makes a fresh decision with respect to the original application and decides if that should be granted, and, if so, whether any conditions should be imposed or the original application should be refused.
Hearings were held in October and November 2023 and January this year and the Commission concluded that granting the licence would be conducive to or encourage harm, specifically to minors.
Who's who in Creswick?
In the last edition of The Local, August 12, we mixed up the names of Creswick's Lachlan McKenzie and Oscar Broad.
The pair were just 16 when they noticed a police officer being assaulted and seriously injured in a park in Creswick several years ago, and rushed over to help.
A month ago Lachlan and Oscar each received a Citizen’s Commendation award at a Victoria Police ceremony held at the state’s police academy in Glen Waverley. The commendation citation that both Oscar and Lachlan, respectively, received says it all. It reads: "On the 7 December 2019, at Creswick, without hesitation he went to the aid of a Victoria Police Officer who had been assaulted and seriously injured."
For the record that is Lachlan on the left and Oscar on the right. The error was made by the editor.
In particular, the Commission concluded there was an appreciable risk that granting the licence would result in an increase of secondary supply of alcohol to minors in Daylesford and (therefore) an increase in alcohol consumption by minors and (therefore) increased harm from the misuse and abuse of alcohol by minors. This conclusion is driven by the accumulation of a number of factors deriving from the “particular local, social, demographic and geographic circumstances” of Daylesford.
Birch Ward Cr Jen Bray, who also took part in the Commission's hearings as an individual, said it was "always going to be a huge battle to go up against a corporate entity as big as Dan Murphy’s but we felt we had to stand up and let the Liquor Commission know how this was going to impact our children, our teenagers and the broader community”.
Daylesford resident Lynda Poke, who also gave evidence at the hearing said: “We are seeing that the levels of violence against women and children were clearly linked with the harms induced by alcohol consumption.”
Words: Donna Kelly | Image: Drusilla Dickenson-Bray
Multi-agency training exercise in Trentham
The CFA has led a major multi-agency training exercise in Trentham, tasking emergency services crews with containing a hazardous material spill in a busy workplace.
More than 75 first responders from CFA, Fire Rescue Victoria, Victoria Police and Ambulance Victoria took part in the four-hour drill at the Arxada facility, which was supported by the Department of Health, Hepburn Shire and WorkSafe.
CFA District 15 Commander Adam Baker emphasised the importance of rehearsing multi-agency emergency response scenarios.
"The objective of the exercise was to test and improve the way emergency services work together when responding to large-scale emergencies," Adam said. "It takes a coordinated effort from all our partner agencies to contain and combat an incident on site, so this training was an excellent opportunity for our senior leaders to engage with other agencies."
When the exercise got underway, participants were briefed on the scenario to ensure their response was as realistic as possible. Crews were then tasked with managing the hypothetical chemical spill, adapting to any unexpected circumstances, and establishing a course of action should the spill or vapour breach the site boundary.
As the lead agency for the exercise, CFA bore an increased level of responsibility, orchestrating the collaborative efforts of all participating emergency services.
Adam added that Arxada was chosen for the exercise because it is the only site in that area, and one of 40 statewide, classified as a major hazard facility. Words & image: Supplied by CFA
Amended Notice is hereby given that a Special Meeting of Council will be held on Tuesday 3 September 2024 commencing at 2:00pm. The proposed business to be transacted at this meeting will be for Council to consider the adoption of the five Township Structure Plans and Rural Hepburn Strategy
This meeting will be held in the Council Chamber, 24 Vincent Street Daylesford, and the public are able to attend in person and or virtually via the live stream on Council’s Facebook page. Those attending in person will need to register via the form on Council’s website.
Members of the public may submit Public Questions and Requests to Address Council relating to the matters to be considered at the meeting. Submissions must be lodged by 10:00am the Monday prior to the Special Meeting of Council.
Only the business as detailed above will be transacted at the Special Council Meeting.
This Special Council Meeting is called pursuant to Council’s Governance Rules 2022.
Enquiries: Manager Governance and Risk – 03 5321 6434.
PUBLIC NOTICE
Amended Notice is hereby given that a Special Meeting of Council will be held on Tuesday 10 September 2024 commencing at 2:00pm. The proposed business to be transacted at this meeting will be for Council to consider the adoption of the Financial Plan
This meeting will be held in the Council Chamber, 24 Vincent Street Daylesford, and the public are able to attend in person and or virtually via the live stream on Council’s Facebook page. Those attending in person will need to register via the form on Council’s website.
Members of the public may submit Public Questions and Requests to Address Council relating to the matters to be considered at the meeting. Submissions must be lodged by 10:00am the Monday prior to the Special Meeting of Council.
Only the business as detailed above will be transacted at the Special Council Meeting.
This Special Council Meeting is called pursuant to Council’s Governance Rules 2022.
Enquiries: Manager Governance and Risk – 03 5321 6434.
PUBLIC NOTICE
New skin cancer clinic opens in Woodend
A state-of-the-art skin cancer clinic has opened in Woodend, offering appointments to patients without the need for a referral from a GP.
Skin cancer doctors Ashvin Arul, Loshna Devamany and Bronwyn Edmunds live locally and recognised a critical need for a purpose-built skin cancer clinic in the Macedon Ranges.
"We frequently detect skin cancers," remarks Ashvin, stressing the prevalence with which Australians encounter such conditions. "Seventy per cent of Australians will face skin cancer at some point, making early detection crucial."
Equipped with state-of-the-art technology, including full body photo mapping and dermoscopy enhanced by AI-driven camera systems, the clinic aims to revolutionize early detection.
"Our goal is zero deaths from melanoma,” asserts Ashvin.
Loshna advises regular annual skin checks, even for those unconcerned about specific spots. "It's prudent to be aware," she explains, "as early intervention can be lifesaving."
Bronwyn advises: "The duration something has been present doesn't guarantee its safety. I've diagnosed melanomas in cases where people have said, 'That's been there for 10 years,' which can be concerning."
She stresses the importance of early detection. "Our aim is to identify these issues before they become apparent to the naked eye."
Open Monday through Friday from 8.30am to 5pm, the clinic welcomes appointments. For more information or to schedule a visit, contact Skin GP Woodend at 03 9969 5000 or visit www.skin.com.au
This new facility promises to be a vital resource in the fight against skin cancer, combining expert medical knowledge with cutting-edge diagnostic tools for the benefit of the local community.
Skin cancer doctors, from left, Ashvin Arul, Bronwyn Edmunds and Loshna Devamany
A young Clunes girl has won silver in a major international jiu-jitsu championship event held in Florida, USA...and then chased it up by taking gold in the Australian Nationals.
In America last month 11-year-old Leiarnna Ferguson bettered many talented and bigger competitors in her division to come away from the 2024 International Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation Pan Kids’ competition with the silver medal.
Leiarnna’s division is the yellow-belt girls’ division for her weight range, and flying to the US to compete was an amazing life experience for the young local who was accompanied by her dad Jay Ferguson and two younger brothers.
“She’s very happy with her result,” Jay said following their return home.
“She was up against some really tough competition, all bigger than her too. She did really, really well.”
The family even worked in a trip to Disneyland and spent some enjoyable hours poolside as well with Leiarnna also participating in valuable training opportunities during the almost three weeks they spent in the US.
Getting such an excellent outcome was the result of countless hours of hard work, practise and dedication and followed Leiarnna’s becoming Victorian State Champion in her newly promoted division of yellow belt back in May.
The trip to compete at international level was generously supported by many in the community who pitched in to the family’s online GoFundMe fundraiser to help make the dream opportunity a reality.
Back on home soil a couple of weeks ago Leiarnna competed in the Nationals held at the Sports and Aquatic Centre in Melbourne and won gold in her division – again against heavier and larger competitors.
“I feel really proud about that. I really enjoyed it,” says Leiarnna, who also describes how she experienced nerves before facing the international competition in Florida, but how they faded away once she stepped up to the mat.
The Creswick Primary School grade six house captain now has her sights set on the regional Pan Pacific Kids competition in October.
Words & images: Eve Lamb
Read more about Leiarnna in our July 15, 2024 edition.
New operating theatre for Daylesford
Daylesford Hospital’s new operating theatre has officially opened and has already started being used to provide locals with much-needed procedures, with the hospital also putting on new staff.
The new theatre, funded with a $6.14 million grant through the state’s Regional Health Infrastructure Fund, has started being used gradually from last month with 21 patients from across the region undergoing scope procedures there.
Last Tuesday it was officially opened with a visit from the state’s Minister for Health Infrastructure and Macedon MP Mary-Anne Thomas and staff, board members and management from the hospital and wider Central Highlands Rural Health Service.
Central Highlands Rural Health acting CEO Phil Catterson says that initially the long-anticipated new theatre will be used to provide scope procedures, such as endoscopy and laparoscopy.
He says it will also be used to deliver eye procedures, a strategic niche area for the health service to pursue.
Mr Catterson says the range of procedures able to be provided at the new theatre is ultimately planned to increase.
Director of Nursing Meagan Harding says the new theatre is providing an average of seven procedures a week with this number also expected to increase into the future.
A total of eight new permanent staff and 12 additional casual roles have been created at the health service as well, with expectations that more staffing hours will become available into the future.
The new theatre represents the first major upgrade to the hospital's operating theatre space since the late 1980s and is being very much welcomed by staff and management - as well as locals keen to have procedures done closer to home.
“It has taken over 12 months to build,” Mr Catterson said.
He said work to secure the state funding some 16 months ago, had began about two years prior with the community raising $100,000 for a master plan.
“It’s great for the community. Safer, and we’ve also got new equipment and new staff,” Mr Catterson said.
The works have also included upgrades to the patient waiting area, recovery and admission areas, as well as the sterile stock storage area and the Central Sterile Supply Department processing area – replacing out-dated patient monitoring and CSSD medical equipment.
The upgrade is now supporting the hospital’s dedicated doctors and nurses to deliver more surgery and get more locals off waiting lists and into surgery and treatment, sooner – and closer to home.
“It’s great for the community. Safer, and we’ve also got new equipment and new staff.” - Phil Catterson
Pictured, from left, Daylesford Hospital Nurse Unit manager Jessica Nowak, Director of Nursing Meagan Harding and Central Highlands Rural Health acting CEO Phil Catterson at the entrance to the new theatre
Words and Image: Eve Lamb
Just briefly...
Australian culinary hero Alla Wolf-Tasker has accepted the Gourmet Traveller's Readers’ Choice Icon Award for her regional Victorian restaurant Lake House, which celebrated its 40th anniversary recently.
Introduced last year, the Icon Award is the only award voted for by the public. “What Alla and her family created at Lake House really established the archetype for Australian regional dining that continues to inspire and inform chefs and restaurateurs across the country. Alla’s vision and hospitality has been shaping the industry for 40 years - and welcoming diners with warmth and care has been Lake House’s signature since day one,” said editor Joanna Hunkin.
Hepburn Shire Council is inviting nominations to honour women who go above and beyond to enrich life in their community, in the lead up to the next International Women's Day.
Nominations are open until September 30 with the 2025 event to be held next March. Since its commencement in 1911, International Women’s Day on March 8 has been celebrating the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women globally. In 2005 the Heather Mutimer Honour Roll was established to pay tribute to women in the Hepburn Shire whose contributions, courage and exemplary actions have led to significant social change for women.
The voices of 1000 rural women are being sought for a groundbreaking new documentary on Australia’s rural, regional and remote women.
Rural Daughters, the feature-length documentary by CheekyMac Productions, will follow the journeys of some of Australia’s most inspiring rural women in their efforts to overcome barriers, effect change and live successful lives in the regions. In addition to their stories, a nationwide 1000 Rural Women Survey has been developed to capture the experiences of rural women on a broad range of topics. The survey is available online until September at cheekymac.com/rural-daughters Hard copies available from CERC@federation.edu.au
Hepburn Shire Council has adopted its Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan.
The Innovate RAP is part of a four-step reconciliation model that seeks to build on the strong foundations of the first stage, Reflect RAP. These plans enable the council to gain a deeper understanding of its sphere of influence, to then establish the best approaches to advance reconciliation within the shire. Mayor, Cr Brian Hood, said the council had worked hard to bring this second stage of the plan to fruition. “Using the pillars of relationships, respect and opportunities, we plan to further embed reconciliation within the council operations. We will continue to work with DJAARA on shire projects, with a view to developing and utilising opportunities for procurement and employment of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander businesses where possible.” Innovate RAP adheres to Reconciliation Australia’s guidelines for a four-step overall plan, which will be implemented over the next two years.
Community members in the Clunes area have noticed yellow ribbons around some significant heritage elm trees in the township.
Responding to questions from The Local the Hepburn Shire Council has confirmed: “This is part of our integrated pest management program where our arborist is conducting sentinel elm leaf beetle surveys to make an informed decision on treating our elm trees for the elm leaf beetle. Treatment of elm leaf beetles will commence in the coming weeks.”
Work is soon to begin to renovate the historic Day Basin at Daylesford’s Wombat Hill Botanic Gardens.
The Day Basin, which historically served as Daylesford’s town reservoir, is set to be transformed into an attractive water feature for the popular local gardens. The basin is located at the base of the historic Pioneer Memorial Tower near the Wombat Hill car park. The project has been championed by the Friends of Wombat Hill Botanic Garden who are providing some of the funding towards the project. The Victorian State Government’s Regional Infrastructure Fund and the Hepburn Shire Council are also helping to fund the project which is a key one for the Friends group.
Melbourne has been shortlisted as one of seven cities in the running to host the 2030 Gay Games.
Other cities in the running are Perth, Auckland, Cape Town, Denver, Edmonton and Taipei.
Homelessness action
Held annually in the first week of August, National Homelessness Week raises awareness of homelessness in Australia and the importance of the delivery of social and affordable housing as a long-term solution.
The 2024 theme of ‘Homelessness Action Now’ is a call to build community, private sector and government support to help end homelessness across Australia.
One small but impactful organisation, Women’s Property Initiatives, has recently acquired four new homes at The Village in Middleton Field to provide good quality, affordable, longer term rental housing for women and children in the Daylesford region.
WPI is a not-for-profit community housing provider who has been creating new beginnings for women and children at risk of homelessness for over 25 years.
WPI chief commercial officer Lucy Simms, pictured, said her organisation had been in discussion with Ballarat-based developer Hygge Property around potential partnership opportunities.
“This particular project was of interest to us because of the need for secure housing in regional Victoria and also the approach they have taken with this eco village in terms of the housing, its sustainability and a community-driven focus.
“And it is the first step for us to move into regional Victoria – we can’t wait to get the keys next year.”
Lucy said their homes were allocated to women from the Victorian Housing Register and who are in need of affordable housing.
“WPI engages with local community support organisations, whose clients may be suitable for the housing. This provides an important link, and ideally the women would already have established connections to the local area.
“We aim to ‘create new beginnings for women and children’ and if we can provide a home where they already have support in place in terms of family, friends or organisations, that really helps them create that new beginning in their life.”
Lucy said WPI charged rent at no more than 30 per cent of household income.
"WPI is a very special organisation that has been in operation for 27 years now and we have created new beginnings for many, many women. And we are excited to be moving into the regions.”
Lucy said WPI’s new housing was funded by philanthropy and government grants – and anyone keen to donate can head to their website at www.wpi.org.au
The homes are being delivered in partnership between Women’s Property Initiatives and Homes Victoria and are funded as part of the Big Housing Build.
Located in Daylesford’s newest neighbourhood Middleton Field, the homes at The Village have been designed by Melbourne-based sustainable architect Breathe.
Civil works at the site of The Village are underway with construction of the homes planned to commence later this year through a single appointed builder.
Recent statistics from WPI include: on any given night 122,494 people in Australia are experiencing homelessness; older women are the fastest growing cohort of people experiencing homelessness in Australia; and in 2023, more women than men in all age groups other than children under the age of nine sought assistance from specialist homelessness services.
Words: Donna Kelly | Image: Supplied
Men's Shed: Tools down, instruments up
There’s little doubt that the blokes at the Daylesford Men’s Shed could whip up a nifty set of gates, a neat kitchen table or some handy signage.
However, what goes on in this enthusiastic local shed is way, way more than that, as anyone strolling by the Shed in Victoria Park on a Monday mid-morning could tell you.
It’s then that the shed’s music group gets together and the result is sufficiently impressive that it’s been known to lure in complete strangers eager to hear more.
More than one of these ‘strangers’ has then gone on to become a regular participant in the Shed’s Monday music group where guitars and ukes feature quite a bit.
Regular sessions also take place on Thursdays at the Shed that’s been going since 2008. But it’s a far cry today from the early days when they used to occupy a disused chook shed that was kindly made available by the Agricultural Society.
These days the Shed is actually a set of three well-equipped and interconnected sheds. It’s also an independently run member of the Australian Men’s Shed Association and adheres to the organisation’s guiding principles.
Inside, the Shed hums with chit-chat, enterprise and the sort of useful machinery that sees members turn out everything from fountain pens to street furniture. They’ve even turned out a set of xylophones for school kids.
“Yes our members can make things, but it’s really more about the talking and the bonding that takes place in the process,” Shed secretary and one of the shed’s founding members Andrew Azzopardi, pictured above left, says.
Andrew says that while many of the Shed members have the sort of practical backgrounds that mean they’ve got valuable trade skills, it’s important that they don’t get too bogged down by orders for this, that or the other.
Instead, he says, it’s the friendships that are made here and the unofficial networking and gasbagging that takes place that makes the shed so valuable for the 33 or so members that are currently on the books - plus the occasional ring-ins.
He says some of the Shed members are contending with things like social isolation, health challenges and personal trauma in their backgrounds and that’s where the Shed can really come into its own. “Some guys have got real loneliness, loss or trauma issues,” says Andrew, a teacher by profession.
Another of the shed’s founding members, Colin Dunlop, pictured rear with guitar, says that with his not-so-nice background of negative workplace issues, the Shed has made a great positive difference in getting on with life today.
“I was an airport firefighter and I got bullied out of the job. I had a bit of a breakdown,” says Colin who, besides regular Thursday sessions, brings a background as a folk singer and guitar player to the Monday morning music group.
The music group, which has become increasingly popular since it formed with just a couple of shed members about 18 months ago, has gone on to entertain in public at Christmas party gigs and Hepburn House.
“The blokes love it. Oh, and we need a keyboardist and a drummer,” Colin says. Keen member of the music group and accomplished woodworker at the general Thursday gatherings, Georgio Buscema, pictured centre with guitar, sums it up succinctly. “It’s the camaraderie basically,” he says.
“It’s great to be part of a group of men who have a common interest. It helps us get on with our lives with purpose.”
The shed has even started providing women’s woodworking classes on a Tuesday, working in conjunction with the local U3A.
Georgio is one of the Shed’s several tutors for these popular classes that are proving so in-demand that there’s a waiting list. Generally, by the time Shed members have chin-wagged away a massive portion of their regular Thursday gatherings, maybe made a bit of progress on a constructive project or two, they’ll have worked up a fairly healthy appetite.
And that’s where the Shed’s self-appointed volunteer cooks come in.
“We’ve got a range of guys, including our president, who are really, really good cooks,” Andrew says.
Members can pay $5 extra to enjoy their talents in the kitchen of a Thursday Shed session lunch time. “No-one goes hungry.”
Andrew says the Shed is keen to welcome new members and will be well represented at the upcoming Positive Ageing Expo, featuring a range of different community groups, at the Creswick RACV Forest Resort on October 10.
He says they’ll have a stand at the event, complete with musical performance featuring in-shed guitar talent, and be warned, they’ll likely also be bringing their ukes.
Further information about joining the Shed can be obtained by checking out the Shed’s website at www.daylesfordmensshed.com
Words & images: Eve Lamb
Pruning
In the last issue I began what I thought was a brief summary of the pruning of a couple of favourite deciduous, backyard fruit trees that would fill my page nicely.
But after some judicious word pruning and deciding that as apples and pears needed the same treatment as do peaches and nectarines, all would be well. But I think we need some more words on pruning. So, here we go again.
Fruit tree pruning - Part 2
Plums. There are two kinds of plums, Japanese, which bear fruit on first year wood and spurs, and European varieties, which bear on spurs of two years and older. They vary in growth habits and other respects.
Japanese plums. These are usually quick growing, early bearers and are either upright or spreading in growth, depending on their heritage. It makes no difference in their quality or quantity of fruit, just their garden space needs. They all seem to do best on the open centre system.
Most of the fruit buds are on short spurs in clusters and each has one blossom. The two-year-old twigs can also bear fruit towards their base. Most of them are heavy bearers and often need a helping hand by removing or tying back offending branches until the fruit has ripened and is ready to harvest.
European plums. These are more difficult to train, take longer to bring into bearing and are harder to keep going with cropping. Cross-pollination plays quite a big part here. The central leader combination shape comes most naturally to these trees. Some, like the well-known prunes, do very well on the full central leader shape. The rest start up like this but then turn over to their own shape.
Almonds. Almond trees are shaped, or more correctly, trained from the very start. This is very important to remember because they do not respond to either pruning or training.
Thinning is the only treatment they can take during their life cycle. They are trained - if possible - on the central leader shape in their own fashion.
Cherry trees. There are no written rules for the pruning or training of cherries. They are one of the few trees which if left alone will form a perfect shape. Pruning, if ever done, will consist of removing a damaged branch, thinning out of too dense branches and getting rid of water shoots.
Fig trees. These will grow in many varied shapes if not trained at an early stage. The main branches should not be cut back at the first pruning, only selected and allowed to develop further.
Figs can be grown most successfully on the combined shape so another crown can be developed above the first but then limit them to the open shape.
Figs grow fruit on the new wood, towards the tips, so no pruning should take place unless the tree is growing too straggly and spindly. When this happens, shorten back half of these branches to a few buds one year and then cut the other half the following year.
This pruning is best done evenly distributed each year, all over each tree.
A tree to honour Clarence at Kingston Ave
Just in time to catch the first stirrings of spring, a very special tree planting took place in the famed Avenue of Honour at Kingston on Saturday, August 10.
The newly grafted elm that was planted on Saturday replaces a mature elm that had reached the end of its life and, on arborist’s advice, had been removed with a new hole dug for its successor.
The original elm tree – and now its new replacement – honour and remember one Clarence Albert Norman, a former young Newlyn blacksmith who served in both World War I and World War II.
Descendant members of Mr Norman’s family travelled from far and wide for Saturday’s special replacement planting organised by the Friends of Kingston Avenue in partnership with the Hepburn Shire Council.
“Clarence Albert Norman was born in 1893 and he was a blacksmith in Newlyn, married, who at 21 years of age enlisted on the fifteenth of July in 1915,” says Claire Rowlands, vice president of the Friends.
“Clarence Norman’s name is on the Newlyn Primary School Honour Roll. Clarence was discharged from the army on the fifth of April in 1919. He later served in the Second World War, and he died at the age of 68 in 1961.”
The former Shire of Creswick Avenue in Kingston was heritage listed in 2015 and has become a much-admired feature of the local landscape.
“It’s one of the most significant Avenues in Victoria,” Claire says.
If Clarence was looking down on Saturday’s tree planting he would have seen his family represented by his three grandsons, three of his four granddaughters, and other family members all proudly thinking of him.
The day was also significant as, being August 10, it was the very same day that way back in 1918 the local community came together to plant the original 225 Avenue trees to commemorate WWI men and women associated with the former Shire of Creswick.
And then in 1919, an additional 61 trees were planted on August 9, making a total of 286 trees in the historic Avenue.
Kingston Friends of the Avenue president Julie Baulch says the new young elm was planted with the assistance of a state government Restoring Community War Memorials and Avenues of Honour grant. It was also planted with an application of beneficial microbial inoculants.
“Eight other trees have also been removed, having reached their usual life expectancy, and will also be replaced in the near future as part of our Tree Management Plan,” Claire says.
With these additional replacement plantings planned ahead, the Friends are now seeking family connected to the other eight trees. They are family of: L.E. Coulson, F.F. Crisp, S. McGard, C.J. Finlayson, W. McPherson, E.E. Owens, C.R. Toll and R.W. Waddington.
Families of the above listed soldiers honoured in the Avenue are being invited to contact kfoa@gmail.com
Left, Clarence Albert Norman’s grandsons Mal McDonald (at far left) and Barry Norman (at far right) wield shovels alongside Hepburn Shire Arboriculture team leader Matthew Daniel while Kingston Friends of the Avenue’s John Rowlands (background) stands beside a photo of Clarence
Right, Kingston Friends of the Avenue president Julie Baulch is delighted as Clarence Albert Norman’s grandson Mal McDonald and Hepburn Shire Arboriculture team leader arboriculture Matthew Daniel work to plant the newly grafted elm
Words & images Eve Lamb
“Clarence Albert Norman was born in 1893 and he was a blacksmith in Newlyn, married, who at 21 years enlisted on the fifteenth of July in 1915.”
- Claire Rowlands
Council news
MESSAGE FROM THE MAYOR
It certainly has been a busy month at Council with many community events held and project milestones reached.
In brilliant news, Daylesford won the Victorian tourism award in the category of towns with a population less than 5,000 and will now enter the national awards. The past month saw the wonderfully renovated Central Springs Reserve officially opened, while the first 32 kms of Creswick Mountain Bike Trails – Djuwang Baring - were opened 5 months early. A community event will be held in December when the remaining 28 kilometres are completed and opened. The trails are already being enjoyed in big numbers and local traders report a pleasing upturn in economic activity.
Council launched its first arts and culture strategy; celebrated a number of Tiny Towns grants for a diverse range of projects across the Shire; Trentham celebrated its first Winterfest; and Council awarded sustainability and environmental grants to community groups. Minister for Equality Harriet Shing and local state member Mary-Anne Thomas helped launch Council’s Rainbow Action Plan – an important and ambitious statement of Council’s commitment to achieving equality and ending discrimination for the LGBTIQA+ community.
Key outcomes from the 20 August Council meeting were: the adoption of Council’s second Reconciliation Action Plan; awarding a contract for lighting at Victoria Park Daylesford; noting solid progress against the Annual Plan initiatives; and changed arrangements for the two upcoming Special Meetings.
The Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan seeks to further develop relationships with members of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander community and Dja Dja Wurrung peoples through innovative approaches which align with the goals outlined in the Dja Dja Wurrung ‘Dhelkunya Dja’ Country Plan and the Recognition Settlement Agreement (RSA).
A $307,000 contract will provide much-needed upgraded sports lighting for the oval and netball courts at Victoria Park, Daylesford. The oval lighting upgrade will meet AFL local club competition and match practice standards, and the netball court sports lighting upgrade will meet Netball Victoria mid-level competition standards. In a unanimous decision councillors resolved to amend arrangements for the upcoming Special Council Meetings on 3 September –proposed adoption of town structure plans and rural strategy – and 10 September – proposed adoption of a long-term financial plan. Community members will now be able to attend those meetings in-person, as well as virtually, to table questions beforehand and to address Council at the meetings.
The Victorian Electoral Commission (VEC) will conduct elections for all 79 Councils across Victoria on 26 October 2024. Council enters the statutory caretaker period at noon on 17 September.
Cr Brian Hood, MAYOR
RECONCILIATION ACTION PLAN
Council adopted its Innovate Reconciliation Action Plan (RAP) at the August Council meeting. The Innovate RAP is part of a four-step reconciliation model that seeks to build on the strong foundations of the first stage, Reflect RAP. These plans enable Council to establish the best approaches to advance reconciliation within the Shire.
Using the pillars of relationships, respect and opportunities, we plan to further embed reconciliation within Council operations. Innovate RAP adheres to Reconciliation Australia’s guidelines for a four-step overall plan, which will be implemented over the next two years. The plan will soon be finalised and available for public viewing.
TALK, TECH + TEA
Thanks to funding from Telstra's Foundation for Rural & Regional Renewal, we can host ongoing free sessions for learning how to make better use of your device, stay safe online and improve your tech knowledge. Just turn up with your devices to learn about scam awareness, getting the most out of your phone or tablet, staying safe online, trouble shooting, and the shutdown of the 3G network. The sessions will be fun and social and are open to all participants, regardless of age, experience or the type of device they are using.
Sessions begin on 2 September at the Creswick Hub on Mondays 10am-12pm, The Warehouse - Clunes on Mondays 2pm-4pm, Daylesford Library on Tuesdays 10am-12pm, The Mechanics Trentham on Tuesdays 2pm-4pm.
RAINBOW ACTION PLAN
Ministers Harriet Shing and Mary-Anne Thomas officially launched Council’s inaugural Rainbow Action Plan in Daylesford. The plan commits Council to actions that will foster a safer and more welcoming community for all LGBTIQA+ people. The plan will help to ensure that all LGBTIQA+ people feel supported, connected, visible and safe in our community. It will also guide Council in providing an inclusive workplace for its LGBTIQA+ staff and volunteers. Hepburn Shire Council is one of only 18 local government authorities in Victoria to adopt an LGBTIQA+ Action Plan.
LOCAL DIRECTORIES
Are you looking to promote your local business for FREE or list your community group, association or sporting club?
The directories provide a platform to list your local business or community group whilst supporting residents to find them. Create a directory listing or find a local business or community group –www.hepburn.vic.gov.au/Find-a-local-directory
The Council Plan 2021-2025 describes how Council will strive towards our vision, where to focus efforts, and how to measure progress. Each Focus Area has a series of priority statements, with actions against each item.
EAT | DRINK | ENJOY
Out & About in the Central Highlands
Creative practice outside metropolitan life
Hepburn Shire Council has just recently endorsed its first Arts and Culture Strategy with the aim to provide a strategic framework for artists, art organisations, businesses and visitors to ferment a healthy arts culture.
It was compiled with the assistance of community feedback, surveys and interviews with relevant bodies such as regional museums, Daylesford Macedon Tourism and most importantly for sector support and funding opportunities, Regional Arts Victoria.
Regional Arts Victoria was formed in 1999 from the bones of the old Victorian Arts Council. It is an independent, not-forprofit organisation with over 700 members across the state.
They work in long-term partnerships at every level of government, encompassing all art forms of creative practice and artistic experience. Due to their efforts regional art networks are growing stronger, giving cause for optimism among creatives outside of the big smoke, a trend being repeated here in our own shire.
Today, as demographic changes continue to reshape country Victoria and many local economies shift from predominantly primary industries such as logging, mining and agriculture to include tourism, lifestyle and services connected with population growth, creatives are becoming more assured about their place within those communities.
Jo Porter, academic, consultant and current CEO of Regional Arts Victoria, pictured, explains further: “I think there is a growing sense of confidence in being a regionally based artist and the understanding that one's art form may be informed by its context but not be defined by that context."
Jo has been involved with theatre production for many years from Circus Oz to executive producer duties at Malthouse Theatre and more.
Over the years much of that work has included touring programs across regional areas of Australia where she was and continues to be "inspired by the specificity of experience that feels available and possible in places where the natural environment is more immediate and people say hello in the street".
With their focus on regionally based artists, the organisation is continuously engaging with the question of what creative practice means outside of metropolitan life.
And while the city/country divide may have become distinctly blurred over the years, the notion that regional simply means everything that isn’t in a city remains.
“However, when you are a practitioner in a regional setting,” says Jo “you acquire a very clear understanding of the granular diversity there is across all these little towns, big towns and all those areas where there are no towns at all.”
Having grown up in the bush, at a time when there were no mobiles or internet, three TV channels and one rubbish-littered two-lane highway passing through to the capital cities, I just assumed that anything interesting only happened in those placesbe it theatre, painting exhibitions or whatever.
Maybe age changes your perspective on things but it certainly seems that opportunities have improved for bush-based artists over the years. Maybe I'm wrong. Perhaps I'm not seeing the complete picture?
“Nearly all of RAV’s staff are regionally-based.” says Jo. “Eyes on the ground, you might say and some of them are specifically tasked with supporting people's capabilities and helping their network make connections.
“I think that one of the things that’s changed is the sense of feeling closer to audiences and marketplaces. Today connectivity has become something that is taken for granted but it has only really come about in the past 15-20 years.”
As mentioned there is fresh resolve in the regional arts landscape and among its community for the arts to be supported from touring and promotion to assistance with professional development and employment.
And in doing so to dissolve the usual ingrained perceptions of some kind of disparity between urban and regional arts practice.
“You may have a different work context or a different set of ideas to explore because you walk out the door and see very different things, but it does not, or should not denote hierarchy. I do think that we are stepping away from that.”
If anything acts as a stumbling block to the development of a meaningful arts environment in Hepburn Shire it is the ever-familiar argument about what should be prioritised with limited budgets, especially when the council is a fair bit into the red.
Why should we throw money at public sculpture or a youth arts space when our roads are in disrepair? Why should we spend money on venues when we need public housing? And so on.
“Traditionally there has just been focus on some hierarchy of needs,” says Jo. “That garbage collection and fixing the potholes should come first. But I would like to just move away from those binary conversations.
“If you are not investing in the whole system, then just fixing the roads or rubbish collection is not enough. No one is going to move to the regions if they can’t get a doctor and why would a doctor want to move here if they can’t send their kids to a school where there is a music teacher?”
Words: Tony Sawrey | Image: Contributed
“Today connectivity has become something that is taken for granted but it has only really come about in the past 15-20 years.”
THIS WEEKS SPECIALS
We are super proud of what we do here at The Daylesford Meat Co. And our customers love it. Here are some of the reviews we received in just the past week - which means our team is growing! We are looking for super friendly foodies who would love to work in the retail section of our Daylesford store. If you this sounds like you, please drop in your resume outlining your experience into our shop or send us an email at info@daylesfordmeatco.com.au.
5/5
Absolutely beautiful lamb and having it all packed was certainly a time saver. Have had the loin chops, chump chops which I breadcrumbed and cooked in the oven, and I made burgers with one of the packs of mince. All was so tender and just melted in your mouth. Have yet to try the racks and the legs. I used the front shanks for soup and will probably casserole the rest. I just know it will be just beautiful meat. Thank you Daylesford Meat Company, for our wonderful whole lamb box. - Carol
BY RICHARD CORNISH
This recipe is from a mate’s mum who would make this on cold Sunday afternoons after a busy day. It always tasted so good with its crisp, golden pastry and tender chunks of steak in a rich and tangy gravy. She always boasted that it took just a few minutes of actual labour and for the rest of the afternoon she would sit at the kitchen table and knit jumpers. And if she was running behind, sometimes she skipped the pie steps, and just served the casserole meat with the potatoes and steamed greens.
To view the full recipe plus many others, click on the QR code or visit daylesfordmeatco.com.au
Visit us in-store to see what other daily specials we have for you!
5/5
Fantastic, absolutely beautiful, think this is my favourite lamb. Hats off to the cook too!
- Andrew
CHAMBER MUSIC FESTIVAL
Friday 13 – Sunday 15 September 2024
CLUNES FARMERS & MAKERS MARKET
2nd SUNDAY OF THE MONTH
9AM- 1PM, FRASER STREET CLUNES
Next Market: September 8th
*VFMA Accredited *Artisanal Produce
*Wood Raffle *Food & Coffee *Live Music
Stepping into Spring
*RSL BBQ & Devonshire Tea *Dog Friendly Stallholder & General Inquiries
Email: marketsocials@clunesvic.org.au
(L’Italiana in Algeri)
ROSSINI
Artists of the Central Highlands with Eve Lamb
Taradale potter Ian (Ox) McColl unearthed a passion for pottery while still in his teens. It was a discovery that has shaped his life’s path ever since. Now Ian and his wife, Leanne Manniche who is also a talented and accomplished ceramicist, run Oxart at Taradale, offering a unique gallery attraction full of functional and aesthetic creations as well as the opportunity for others to learn their time-honoured functional craft and multi-dimensional art. Ian chatted with Eve Lamb.
Eve: How did you get into pottery?
Ian: I was in year 10 at school and chose ceramics because I thought it would be easy and wouldn’t require exams. I loved it from the first moment I got on the pottery wheel.
Eve: What has been your path since then?
Ian: I went to uni in Bendigo and studied ceramics and then went into the industry, working on a large commercial scale. Then I became a school teacher, woodwork and ceramics, but I’ve been working as a potter full-time now for about the last four years.
Eve: Your wife, Leanne, is also a ceramicist. How do the two of you go working together? How does your work differ?
Ian: Leanne got into making pottery, hand building and also working on the wheel, after meeting me. She also does a lot of the firing and also a lot of the marketing and selling through the gallery. Leanne is much more into painted decoration. There’s no competition at all (laughs).
Eve: I know that a lot of your own work is functional, but how do you incorporate art and artistry into your practice?
Ian: The eternal question that arises with ceramics is function versus artistry. My main thing is form. Every time you create a new form that’s where the artistry is. I love working with form, using the wheel at the same time, creating objects and from there I use glaze to enhance the form so it’s also about the glazes and the colours. I use a lot of the Japanese-style glaze called shino.
Eve: Has your practice has taken you to some interesting places?
Ian: Yes, it has. I did a short stint in Japan. Everywhere I travel I try to reach out to potters in the area to try and learn from them. At the moment I am in Narooma (NSW) learning from a friend, Cameron Williams, who specialises in making enormous pots. I’m learning a lot.
Eve: Are they for outdoors? Garden urns?
Ian: They’re suited to either outdoors or indoors.
Eve: Do you have any special events or exhibitions coming up?
Ian: Yes, I will have work in the Ross Creek Gallery group show at Smythes Creek over October 5-20. I will have some of the big pots that I am learning to make now in that exhibition. I will also be part of the Australian Ceramics Open Studios weekend event over November 23 and 24. And we also have our annual Friends of Oxart Christmas market on December 1 at our gallery in Taradale with a lot of other makers and artists.
Eve: How are your classes that you offer at Oxart going? Who takes part?
Ian: We’re doing loads of classes, and also workshops, and we’re getting everyone from kids to people aged over 90. We have one student in his 90s. We haven’t had anyone aged 100 yet. We’ve had a class with mums and their toddlers. We also get kids and teenagers. We have regular classes and people can learn what they want to learn, whether it’s wheel work or hand building.
Eve: How do you find teaching?
Ian: I think the act of teaching refines your own practice all the time. It really, really hones your own skills.
Image: Tony Sawrey
Gigs with Darren Lowe
Town Folk Festival
Town Folk Festival, a single-day contemporary folk music festival, announces its expansion in 2024, bringing an enormous line-up of local and international talent to Djaara/Castlemaine on Saturday, November 16.
The 2024 line-up includes A. Savage (US), the solo project of Parquet Courts frontman Andrew Savage, singer-songwriter Marlon Williams (NZ), and four-time ARIA award-nominated future-soul powerhouse Ngaiire.
In their only Victorian appearance for 2024, global touring The Teskey Brothers will perform on the main stage, along with Yirinda, the project of Fred Leone and Samuel Pankhurst, who combine ancient Aboriginal language with sublime modern production.
The mesmerising Grace Cummings will play songs from her acclaimed third album Ramona, alongside Jess Ribeiro, Queenie and many more.
Maintaining its family-friendly, community-oriented atmosphere, the festival will activate local venues such as The Bridge Hotel and Shedshaker Brewery, with the exciting addition of a major festival site at the Sunken Oval.
Festival director Jeremy Furze said Town Folk was growing up.
"After three iterations in ‘cute neighbourhood gathering’ mode, the time felt right to kick off the training wheels and step this thing up to ‘big fat festival’ mode. The multi-stage, multi-venue format will remain – again utilising all the wonderful spaces along Walker Street – but this year we will drop a stage on the Sunken Oval across the road and push the faders up a few notches."
There will be performances from A. Savage, Aplegate, Don't Thank Me, Spank Me!, Felicity Cripps Band, Grace Cummings, Harmony Byrne, Jess Ribeiro, M79, Marlon Williams, Merryn Jeann, Ngaiire, Queenie, Ruby and Loretta, Tek Tek Ensemble, The Maes, The Teskey Brothers and Yirinda.
Tickets on sale now.
Theatre Royal, Castlemaine Checkerboard Lounge - September 15
Inspirational front man Carl Pannuzzo (drums and vocals), revered as one of Australia’s great blues voices, master guitarist Shannon Bourne, Hammond virtuoso Tim Neal, and ineffable bassist Zoë Frater are Checkerboard Lounge - ‘breathing fire, virtuosity and improvisation into blues, classic soul and roots originals’.
Their multi-award-winning album Sun Sessions, recorded at the legendary Sun Studio, Memphis, Tennessee, catapulted the band to nationwide recognition.
Recent release Roller Coaster shot to the top five of several national charts and has been getting reviews internationally as one of the top albums of 2024. An undeniable powerhouse, world-class musicianship, dynamic, passionate and playful, Checkerboard are the very essence of a live music experience.
Finally back to one of their favourite towns, Castlemaine, accompanied by the ground-breaking rising stars, Aplegate, this will be a show not to be missed.
Checkerboard's improvisational bent means that no two shows are the same, fans can always expect the unexpected. Performances take on a life of their own with songs transformed on stage at the whim of one of the band members into a surprisingly different feel or even genre. They also know how to get feet moving.
Play Music on The Porch Day...at Kingston
Multiple musicians and community musical groups will be performing at the Commercial Hotel in Kingston as part of this Saturday’s global Play Music on The Porch Day.
A world-wide event, every year musicians in more than 70 countries and more than 1000 cities across the globe participate, and are encouraged to register their location at Play Music on The Porch Day – A worldwide celebration of peace and music.
The Commercial Hotel will once again host a wide variety of live musical performances starting at noon and running through to 4pm on August 31.
Musos lining up to help give the pub’s “porch” a good shaking include Creswick Drum Circle, Skedaddle featuring banjo, guitar and fiddle, Bec Matthews and Jamie featuring kora, guitar and banjo, The Roundabout Folk Band, Hands On Drum Group, Stella Savy with her guitar, plus Ballarat’s Thursday Night Choir and the Creswick Chorus. All are invited to get along and catch the live music at the Kingston pub, but to participate in Play Music on The Porch Day all anyone need do is get outside and make music.
Participants are invited to also share a video of themselves making music on the day on social media using the hashtag #playmusicontheporchday.
Leavers Hotel – Creswick
Delsinki and the Quiet Coachmen with Steven Gates - August 31
The Whitlams Black Stump duo - September 5/6
Rennie Pearson - September 13
Sarah Carroll- NQR&B album launch - September 14
Got a gig to share? Email news@tlnews.com.au
Do you feed & water people? Advertise here.
HEIRLOOM CATERING
A Nostalgic Trip Down Memory Lane
OUR FOOD IS PERFECT FOR Special Celebrations
Bereavements
Morning & Afternoon Teas
Picnics
Corporate Catering
Contact Nicole: 0418 521 156 thevintagebaker3342@gmail.com thevintagebaker3342
Let’s support our community and shop local!
“Locals supporting Locals” Restaurants, Bakers, Butchers, Cafe’s, Local vineyards, Distillers, Brewers and of course each other.
Remember we offer free delivery, T&Cs apply.
Delivery times are Monday to Saturday between 10am and 4pm.
We accept credit cards over the phone or we have an on-board eftpos machine. You will need to be at home for the delivery with proof of age if asked by the driver. Give the Foxxy team a call on 5348 3577.
Keep safe, everyone.
To market, to market
Every Sunday - Daylesford Sunday Market
First Saturday - Daylesford Farmers Market, Trentham Neighbourhood Centre Makers Market, Golden Plains Farmers Market, Woodend Farmers Market
First Sunday - Castlemaine Artists’ Market
Second Saturday - Trentham Community Group Market, Kyneton Farmers Market, Ballan Farmers Market, Kyneton Rotary Community Market
Second Sunday - Maldon Market, Clunes Farmers Market
Third Saturday - Trentham Farmers and Makers Market, Glenlyon Farmers Market, Leonards Hill Market, Creswick Market
Third Sunday - Talbot Farmers Market, Malmsbury Farmers Market
Fourth Sunday - Trentham Station Sunday Market, Buninyong Village Market
Kyle’s Rant
What sort of skullduggery is this? When a poor struggling billionaire who beat accusations he had built his tech fortune on a fraudulent deal gets towelled over by a waterspout?
Now, I know boats, and as a young curious commercial fisherman I drove a sevenmetre boat right through a waterspout, but apart from frightening my crew, which was the whole point, not much else happened.
I do however realise climate change is here, and storms are much worse than 30 plus years ago when I had my soiree with the spout. However, this latest incident was with no ordinary boat. The Bayesian had an overall length of 55.9m, a beam of 11.51m, a draught of 9.73m and a volume of 473 gross tonnes. Her mast stood 72.27m high above the waterline, just short of the world's tallest mast.
All in all, this boat was unsinkable and being less than 300 metres offshore in terms of a maritime disaster this is up there with the Titanic on how many specific stuff-ups had to line up to cause this.
And if you combine this with a few days beforehand, his co-defendant getting run over by a car while out jogging, it sounds like a load of karma is going on and dealt by the hand of Mother Nature herself.
In other breaking news: A favourite saying of my father's is “as I am so ye shall be”. He usually lowers his voice to a gravelly Kenny Rogers' Oh Ruby tone, as he thinks it adds gravitas.
The old bloke had a ripper weekend in New Zealand as he celebrated his 80th birthday a few weeks back.
The weekend ended with Donna breaking her wrist around 2am after just one of three evening parties. I was nowhere to be found as my own family thought it would be a great idea to extend the party back to our motel and they bailed Uncle Kyle into the back of an SUV in a Taken-style abduction.
Now I do have a very particular set of skills but they don’t extend to fumbling around in the dark while more than a little tipsy trying to unlock a car boot. So when Donna finally made it back to the motel broken, beaten and covered in mud, I felt very bad and even turned the music down so I could better hear her mumbling and talking about how I was to blame for the situation.
But Dad has repeated the aforementioned saying a lot, as old folks tend to latch onto things, and I think he thinks it makes him philosophical. I am not sure where he got it from but a quick Google reveals it’s not from the Bible it is actually from an old Indiana tombstone epitaph. It says: "Pause, stranger, when you pass me by: As you are now, so once was I. As I am now, so you will be. So, prepare for death and follow me."
However, an unknown smartarse added these words: "To follow you I'm not content, Until I know which way you went." Which I must retort to the old bugger the next time he regurgitates his favourite saying.
In further news, in fully woke mode, it seems like it is illegal know to call someone a Ranga, an abbreviation of orangutan, and common when referring to redheads or gingernuts, such as myself.
It looks like Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tait is in all sorts of trouble for calling one of his counterparts a ranga. And then there is old mate the crossing guard at the school crossing down here in Victoria, who got into a world of trouble for high-fiving the students as they crossed the road. WTF is the world coming to?
So, I’m off to the primary school to find a small range child to high five and tell them as I am, so ye shall be.
The world news rant over…
Local Lines
Winter slippered feet
Winter creeps across my garden on slippered feet and underfoot the icing sugar lawn crackles as I gather early morning firewood.
Cold air snaps and burns my face blackening tender new growth with icy claws, and coating the birdbath with glass.
Clear sweet bells of birdsong tremble in the early hours, bright embers of sound in the dimness piercing senses blunted and numb.
My throat shallow breathes razor air, swallowing mouthfuls tasting of cold. Lips numb, fingertips frozen, the night air burns.
Inside, in soft grey ashes coals nestle, and the fire leaps. Inside, my bed is a warm cave and I breathe myself back to sleep.
Outside, people sleep rough. Huddled shapes beneath the gums.
- Rhonda Cotsell
Rhonda lives in Creswick with a big garden and a cat. She is involved with Ballarat Writers, to which the Creswick Crit group is attached.
Local Lines features poetry by locals about local and any other matters. Please submit poems to Bill Wootton at cottlesbreedge@gmail.com
Pick me, pick me!
Hey! I’m Chief. I’m a four-
I’m a big lovable (desexed) boy. I love having attention and hanging out with my people. I’m a very strong dog but I walk well on a harness and respond well to vocal cues. I’m a big goofball when I’m playing and I’d really love to find a great, caring household of people who will spend a lot of time with me. I am dog friendly. Meet me at MAAWS in Castlemaine.
Phone: 5472 5277.
Microchip no: 991001003546764
(Pick me, pick me is run in memory of Rosie & Curly - we picked them. And proudly supported by Daylesford's petstock - where pets are family.)
Just sayin’...
By Donna Kelly
I managed to break my wrist, in two spots, during a recent weekend celebrating Kyle's dad's 80th over in New Zealand.
It happened on the Saturday night, I must admit after a couple of wines, but there was also a very slippy patch on the lawn where a tree had recently been removed.
We were heading home on the Monday so I hoped it was just a sprain and nursed it back to Australia.
I went to the doctor who was worried I had broken my scaphoid which is apparently quite a bad thing to do. It's also known as the snuff box - sort of the spot between the base of your forefinger and your thumb - I guess where people used to put stuff to snuff.
If that was the case it was going to be about eight weeks in a cast which would have been a real pain with showering and plastic bags etc.
But the x-ray showed it was a bit lower down, or is that higher up the wrist, and all I have to do is wear a wrist brace for a few weeks while it knits up.
And I can still type, which Kyle is pretty happy about. Would be a slow news day every day if I had to rely on Kyle and his two-finger typing for the paper.
So I am pretty happy and also very pleased that I live in Australia. Someone asked if I had thought about getting an x-ray in NZ but that is a hard no. Especially where we were up north of the north island.
Kyle's step-mother died a couple of years ago after about six months of severe back pain, so bad she was doing nightly trips to the local hospital in an ambulance. Each time they sent her home, telling her the last time, she needed to walk around more because she was basically being lazy. I kid you not.
Then came the call that the tests, finally done, revealed she had stage four bone cancer in her back - and was heading to palliative care.
More recently, after years of grieving, Kyle's dad put himself back onto the market and met a lovely woman who we were introduced to at the party weekend.
Di had some pretty bad stomach pains happening and a few days after we left she got a call to say the tests showed she had stage four bowel cancer.
But, and this is the rub, they were happy to catch up with her in six weeks to have a chat about moving forward. No mention of pain relief, mental health help, nothing. You couldn't write this stuff. And of course, they are of an age where doctor knows best and there is no-one to advocate for them.
I felt lucky that the few times Mum needed help I could be there for her. She had a fall once, straight onto her back, off a stool that she apparently needed to find something on a top shelf in the kitchen.
Anyway, she had to go into respite care for six weeks but was lucky enough to find something just over the way from her retirement village unit - in the same complex. But when we arrived there was just a bed.
I asked whether there was a television happening? No. A chair for visitors? No. Not sure what they thought Mum would do for six weeks in an empty room but Kyle just marched back to her place and returned the first time with a comfy armchair and then on the second trip, a television.
While she was there, they had a food poisoning outbreak and closed off all the rooms so the patients could not spread anything around. I remember visiting one day and asking when the movement ban would be lifted. It turned out to be the previous day but they hadn't got around to telling patients or removing strict signs. FFS.
Finally, Mum was given clearance to return home, but the head matron told me she thought Mum should stay one more night. I asked why and didn't get a real reason. I think there must be some nice government funding available for high needs people. Or is that just me being cynical. Anyway, Mum went home that day.
Not sure what to do about Di. Do we head back over and try to fix a broken medical system? Or leave Di to die? Can you pay for advocates or do they have to be related to the patient to get involved?
Not sure on this one. Just sayin'...
Here is the crossword solution for Edition 312. How did you go?
All words in the crossword appear somewhere in the same edition of The Local.
Chook Run
Pullets for sale
Delivery on Saturday, September 28 to Ballan.
Hyline brown & Black Australorp Pre-order
Ballarat Chooks
Kelvin on 0400 559 559
If you would like to be part of the real estate publication of the Central Highlands contact Kyle on 0416 104 283.
Space bookings by September 17. Copy by September 19.
Out Monday, September 23 - for the Grand Final long weekend.